Tuesday, June 27, 2017

On Paper

Previous arrest record
Mental health diagnoses
ADD and major depression diagnoses
Multiple psychiatric medications
Long history of anger management issues
History of drug use
Ongoing struggles with alcohol and drugs
History of dealing drugs
History of police engagement, including multiple robberies (one at gun point)
History of quickly emptying large amounts of
inheritance and savings
Family history of depression and suicide
Identified on the LGBT* spectrum
Family history of alcoholism
Unstable financials
Insurmountable debt
Family history of estrangement
Multiple tattoos
Multiple piercings
Rape survivor
Feminist
Promiscuous
Both male and female partners
Unwed, never married
Pro-choice advocate
History of bar fights
20+ years of therapy
History of risky behaviors (past skydiver, history of speeding, etc)
Doer of bad deeds


Nonprofit fundraiser
Masters degree
Graduated with Honors
Admitted to undergrad with Distinction
Avid volunteer with children's programs
Current professional association board member
Past professional association president
Systems thinker
Auntie 5x over
Feeder of hungry tummies
Lover of cats and children
Baker of bread and cakes and homemade vegan ice cream
Runner of marathons
Giver of all the clothes that won't fit over this stomach
Late night office night owl
Candle burner at both ends
Generous Donor of blood AND money
Drinker of beer
Feminist
Keeper of calm in crisis
Overreactor in false crises
Rape survivor
Ruthless fighter for equity
Understanding of anti-oppression
Intolerant of ignorance
Teacher of things
Jack of all trades
Master of none
Holder of tense shoulders
Addicted to food shows,
shoes,
and spices
White girl
Middle America

Am I worthy of that bullet?
What line deserves my flesh tasting its metallic tang?
Will the journalists pick the shortest lines--
print punched out and
typeset for purveyors?
Does the steel bend mid-air for us
with enough good to balance our
bad?
What lines will we be reduced to,
given the uncertainty of an instance?
How good would you look
on paper?

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